windows messenger vs. MSN messenger

What is the difference between Windows messenger and MSN
messenger?
I recently downloaded MSN messenger 6.1, thinking it would
replace Windows Messenger 4.7 which came with Windows XP,
but I now have 2 versions of Messenger. The problem is I
cannot remove Windows Messenger in the "Add/remove
programs" list. Please tell me how i can get rid of this
annoying messenger which signs me in every time i go to
get my e-mail. I have tried disabling it in Outlook
Express as suggested in other postings, but it still opens
up automatically.
I would appreciate clear instructions.
Thanks
Fran

Greetings Fran,

There are several differences between the two. Most notably, MSN Messenger 6 has support for
display pictures, custom emoticons, has a different interface, etc. whereas Windows Messenger
supports SIP-based communications services, Exchange IM Server, etc. Which one you use is up
to you, and a matter of personal choice (and based upon your needs and likes), however one
thing to keep in mind, Windows Messenger must still be installed on Windows XP in order for
MSN Messenger to retain full functionality (Remote Assistance, Whiteboard, Application
Sharing, etc.).

MSN Messenger is centered around MSN technologies (Hotmail, MSN Member Profiles, MSN Mobile,
etc.) whereas Windows Messenger is centered around Windows technologies (Exchange Server,
Office Live Communications Server, Windows Netmeeting, etc.).

Both clients however can make use of Microsoft technologies, like the .NET Messenger service,
..NET Passport and .NET Alerts.

They are separate products and one does not replace the other.

You can completely remove Windows Messenger, but if you do, you will be preventing Remote
Assistance, Whiteboard, Application Sharing and any other applications that utilize Messenger
from working (or loading without problems). Instead (and this should solve your problem),
you should simply disable it. To do so, open it up, click Tools, Options, Preferences tab
and unchecking 'Run this Program when Windows starts' or 'Run Windows Messenger when Windows
starts' (depending on version). As well, you can disable it further by going to Start,
Control Panel, Add or Remove Programs, Add/Remove Windows Components on the left, uncheck
Windows Messenger in the components list and click Next . Note: this is only available if
you've installed Windows XP Service Pack 1 -- if you haven't, visit
http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com. This won't remove Windows Messenger, but it will let it
stay out of your way. However, what mail application are you using that it's still starting
up in?
____________________________________________
Jonathan Kay
Microsoft MVP - Windows Messenger/MSN Messenger
Associate Expert
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/
Messenger Resources - http://messenger.jonathankay.com


"Fran" wrote in message
...
What is the difference between Windows messenger and MSN
messenger?
I recently downloaded MSN messenger 6.1, thinking it would
replace Windows Messenger 4.7 which came with Windows XP,
but I now have 2 versions of Messenger. The problem is I
cannot remove Windows Messenger in the "Add/remove
programs" list. Please tell me how i can get rid of this
annoying messenger which signs me in every time i go to
get my e-mail. I have tried disabling it in Outlook
Express as suggested in other postings, but it still opens
up automatically.
I would appreciate clear instructions.
Thanks
Fran

Thank you, Jonathan, for your detailed reply.
I followed the steps you outlined, but lo and behold, when
I checked my e-mail with Outlook Express, the Windows
Messenger automatically signed in again! In Outlook
Express - Tools - should I uncheck the box "allow
messenger to run in the background". I already unchecked
it to allow it to run in startup.
Thanks for your advice.

-----Original Message-----
Greetings Fran,

There are several differences between the two. Most
notably, MSN Messenger 6 has support for
display pictures, custom emoticons, has a different
interface, etc. whereas Windows Messenger
supports SIP-based communications services, Exchange IM
Server, etc. Which one you use is up
to you, and a matter of personal choice (and based upon
your needs and likes), however one
thing to keep in mind, Windows Messenger must still be
installed on Windows XP in order for
MSN Messenger to retain full functionality (Remote
Assistance, Whiteboard, Application
Sharing, etc.).

MSN Messenger is centered around MSN technologies
(Hotmail, MSN Member Profiles, MSN Mobile,
etc.) whereas Windows Messenger is centered around
Windows technologies (Exchange Server,
Office Live Communications Server, Windows Netmeeting,
etc.).

Both clients however can make use of Microsoft
technologies, like the .NET Messenger service,
..NET Passport and .NET Alerts.

They are separate products and one does not replace the
other.

You can completely remove Windows Messenger, but if you
do, you will be preventing Remote
Assistance, Whiteboard, Application Sharing and any other
applications that utilize Messenger
from working (or loading without problems). Instead (and
this should solve your problem),
you should simply disable it. To do so, open it up,
click Tools, Options, Preferences tab
and unchecking 'Run this Program when Windows starts'
or 'Run Windows Messenger when Windows
starts' (depending on version). As well, you can disable
it further by going to Start,
Control Panel, Add or Remove Programs, Add/Remove Windows
Components on the left, uncheck
Windows Messenger in the components list and click Next
. Note: this is only available if
you've installed Windows XP Service Pack 1 -- if you
haven't, visit
http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com. This won't remove
Windows Messenger, but it will let it
stay out of your way. However, what mail application are
you using that it's still starting
up in?
____________________________________________
Jonathan Kay
Microsoft MVP - Windows Messenger/MSN Messenger
Associate Expert
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/
Messenger Resources - http://messenger.jonathankay.com


"Fran" wrote in
message
...
What is the difference between Windows messenger and MSN
messenger?
I recently downloaded MSN messenger 6.1, thinking it
would
replace Windows Messenger 4.7 which came with Windows
XP,
but I now have 2 versions of Messenger. The problem is I
cannot remove Windows Messenger in the "Add/remove
programs" list. Please tell me how i can get rid of this
annoying messenger which signs me in every time i go to
get my e-mail. I have tried disabling it in Outlook
Express as suggested in other postings, but it still
opens
up automatically.
I would appreciate clear instructions.
Thanks
Fran



.

Hi Fran,

Unfortunately that won't do it, to disable Windows Messenger loading with Outlook Express,
you'll need to close Outlook Express, then download and run this .reg file:
http://messenger.jonathankay.com/dow...ssenger_oe.reg
____________________________________________
Jonathan Kay
Microsoft MVP - Windows Messenger/MSN Messenger
Associate Expert
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/
Messenger Resources - http://messenger.jonathankay.com

"Fran" wrote in message
...
Thank you, Jonathan, for your detailed reply.
I followed the steps you outlined, but lo and behold, when
I checked my e-mail with Outlook Express, the Windows
Messenger automatically signed in again! In Outlook
Express - Tools - should I uncheck the box "allow
messenger to run in the background". I already unchecked
it to allow it to run in startup.
Thanks for your advice.

-----Original Message-----
Greetings Fran,

There are several differences between the two. Most
notably, MSN Messenger 6 has support for
display pictures, custom emoticons, has a different
interface, etc. whereas Windows Messenger
supports SIP-based communications services, Exchange IM
Server, etc. Which one you use is up
to you, and a matter of personal choice (and based upon
your needs and likes), however one
thing to keep in mind, Windows Messenger must still be
installed on Windows XP in order for
MSN Messenger to retain full functionality (Remote
Assistance, Whiteboard, Application
Sharing, etc.).

MSN Messenger is centered around MSN technologies
(Hotmail, MSN Member Profiles, MSN Mobile,
etc.) whereas Windows Messenger is centered around
Windows technologies (Exchange Server,
Office Live Communications Server, Windows Netmeeting,
etc.).

Both clients however can make use of Microsoft
technologies, like the .NET Messenger service,
..NET Passport and .NET Alerts.

They are separate products and one does not replace the
other.

You can completely remove Windows Messenger, but if you
do, you will be preventing Remote
Assistance, Whiteboard, Application Sharing and any other
applications that utilize Messenger
from working (or loading without problems). Instead (and
this should solve your problem),
you should simply disable it. To do so, open it up,
click Tools, Options, Preferences tab
and unchecking 'Run this Program when Windows starts'
or 'Run Windows Messenger when Windows
starts' (depending on version). As well, you can disable
it further by going to Start,
Control Panel, Add or Remove Programs, Add/Remove Windows
Components on the left, uncheck
Windows Messenger in the components list and click Next
. Note: this is only available if
you've installed Windows XP Service Pack 1 -- if you
haven't, visit
http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com. This won't remove
Windows Messenger, but it will let it
stay out of your way. However, what mail application are
you using that it's still starting
up in?
____________________________________________
Jonathan Kay
Microsoft MVP - Windows Messenger/MSN Messenger
Associate Expert
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/
Messenger Resources - http://messenger.jonathankay.com


"Fran" wrote in
message
...
What is the difference between Windows messenger and MSN
messenger?
I recently downloaded MSN messenger 6.1, thinking it
would
replace Windows Messenger 4.7 which came with Windows
XP,
but I now have 2 versions of Messenger. The problem is I
cannot remove Windows Messenger in the "Add/remove
programs" list. Please tell me how i can get rid of this
annoying messenger which signs me in every time i go to
get my e-mail. I have tried disabling it in Outlook
Express as suggested in other postings, but it still
opens
up automatically.
I would appreciate clear instructions.
Thanks
Fran



.